Last minute penalty denies Rangers Reserves all three league points

Banbridge Rangers Reserves were denied all three points in their second league game on Saturday after Newry City equalised with a last minute penalty at Cheney Park.

The corresponding fixture last season saw a reverse as the Gers were the ones scoring a last minute equaliser and in the recent Wilmor Johnston Cup Final Newry had scored an injury time equaliser before going on to win so the script was there to be continued.

It was Newry who struck first with a goal after 18 minutes when a long ball down the right channel was latched onto by Newry’s striker and he dispatched past keeper Neil Wilson from an acute angle.

Most of the possession was held by the Banbridge side who looked comfortable with Scott Lindsay having a particularly effective game in the Makelele role.

Dean Gordon had two good chances from through balls in the first half but his best effort came from an indirect free kick inside the box after a collected back pass but was unable to level up before the half time interval.

It took until the hour mark for Rangers to draw level with Wilson’s kick out evading both central defenders and winger Stephen Copes was able to control and slot under the Newry keeper.

With fifteen minutes remaining the home side made their pressure count by going 2-1 ahead. A crunching tackle from Lindsay released Jordan McCracken who skipped past three challenges before his effort was eventually diverted into the path of Dean Gordon who finished well.

In the final minute of the game Rangers had the ball in an advanced area but were hit on the counter attack and keeper Wilson upended Newry striker Cargin for a penalty which brought the scores level and a share of the spoils.

This Saturday the Reserves play host to Ballymacash Rangers Reserves who are one of several new admissions to the division and as such will be somewhat of an unknown quantity.